We are now at (indeed, slightly past!) the football season’s midway point, and our three teams—the New England Patriots, the New York Giants, and the Chicago Bears—have all surprised, though not always pleasantly. In the case of the Pats and the Jints, the surprise was simultaneous: they played each other in Foxboro Sunday, in their first meaningful meeting since Super Bowl XLII. The Giants won, 24-20, to snap quarterback Tom Brady’s 31-game regular season home win streak and take a commanding, if not definitive, lead in the NFC East—despite being without their best receiver, Hakeem Nicks; their best running back, Ahmad Bradshaw; and several other key contributors on both sides of the ball (including their center, an underratedly significant position). The Pats still retain a share of the AFC East lead, but at 5-3, and with the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets (whom they play next week) looming, it’s precarious.

If this weren’t a season of surprises—the 7-1 San Francisco 49ers; the resurgent Bills and Detroit Lions; the extremely quietly 6-2 Cincinnati Bengals—then the Giants would be getting a ton of notice. They came into the season limping, literally and figuratively. Tony Romo was back in charge of the Dallas Cowboys (but he’s still being Tony Romo). Several folks thought the Washington Redskins, behind a strong defense and revitalized running game, would contend for the East for the first time since the 1990s (the running game never showed up). The Philadelphia Eagles were the League’s “Dream Team” (they’re currently below .500). By limiting mistakes, controlling the line of scrimmage, and getting, sure, elite play from QB Eli Manning, the Giants are 6-2 and looking pretty. It pains me to say this as a Skins fan, but they’re a great organization, and good on ‘em.

We are now at (indeed, slightly past!) the football season’s midway point, and our three teams—the New England Patriots, the New York Giants, and the Chicago Bears—have all surprised, though not always pleasantly. In the case of the Pats and the Jints, the surprise was simultaneous: they played each other in Foxboro Sunday, in their first meaningful meeting since Super Bowl XLII. The Giants won, 24-20, to snap quarterback Tom Brady’s 31-game regular season home win streak and take a commanding, if not definitive, lead in the NFC East—despite being without their best receiver, Hakeem Nicks; their best running back, Ahmad Bradshaw; and several other key contributors on both sides of the ball (including their center, an underratedly significant position). The Pats still retain a share of the AFC East lead, but at 5-3, and with the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets (whom they play next week) looming, it’s precarious.

If this weren’t a season of surprises—the 7-1 San Francisco 49ers; the resurgent Bills and Detroit Lions; the extremely quietly 6-2 Cincinnati Bengals—then the Giants would be getting a ton of notice. They came into the season limping, literally and figuratively. Tony Romo was back in charge of the Dallas Cowboys (but he’s still being Tony Romo). Several folks thought the Washington Redskins, behind a strong defense and revitalized running game, would contend for the East for the first time since the 1990s (the running game never showed up). The Philadelphia Eagles were the League’s “Dream Team” (they’re currently below .500). By limiting mistakes, controlling the line of scrimmage, and getting, sure, elite play from QB Eli Manning, the Giants are 6-2 and looking pretty. It pains me to say this as a Skins fan, but they’re a great organization, and good on ‘em.